TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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One last ride: Who does senior quarterback Liam O’Brien want to be in his final season? This season's schedule
From Ivy champions to 5-5, the editors forecast the 2025 Penn football season
‘Never thought we would have seen this day’: Penn football prepares for first year of Ivy playof participation
Jared Richardson looks to cement a legacy in his final season on the field
Penn football is suiting up
‘Next-man-up mentality’: The team culture that drives Penn football
Meet Penn football’s four 2025 captains
‘We’ll protect him with our life’: A look at Penn football’s ofensive line A deep dive into the 2025 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll
Storylines to follow ahead of Penn football's season opener at Stonehill
THIS SEASON'S SCHEDULE:
One last ride: Who does senior quarterback Liam O’Brien want to be in his final season?
O’Brien broke out last season in a historic matchup against Cornell later dubbed ‘Liamsanity’
SAMANTHA WICKHAM Sports Reporter
When senior quarterback Liam O’Brien first took the field for the Quakers three seasons ago, fans knew what was coming.
His earliest appearances were predictable: quarterback sneaks, short-yardage pushes, and a reputation as a run-first player. This forecast has followed O’Brien since his earliest days at Penn. But O’Brien, with a diverse athletic background, never saw it that way — and after a breakout season last fall, fans are starting to see it his way, too.
“I’d describe myself as an athletic quarterback,” O’Brien said. “In today’s game, you’ve got to do everything, and that’s what I try to do.”
O’Brien’s versatility is rooted
BY THE NUMBERS
6 single-game passing touchdowns, setting program record
7 single-game total touchdowns, setting program record
66% completion rate on pass attempts in 2024
in his background. Before settling on football at Penn, O’Brien was committed to play lacrosse at Cornell — and it wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he decided to make the switch.
His dual-sport history conditioned him for his notorious run game, but last season, he proved that he was equipped with a much more versatile skillset.
In his first game starting for the Quakers after then-senior quarterback Aidan Sayin went down with an injury, O’Brien led the Quakers to their first Ivy League win of the season against Brown. One week later, O’Brien further impressed by rewriting the history books against the school he could have played for.
O’Brien notched six passing touchdowns during Penn’s November 2024 matchup with Cornell, setting a program record for the most passing touchdowns in a game. He also totaled seven scores under his name, setting an additional Penn program record for the most total touchdowns responsible for in a game. O’Brien’s versatility led the Quakers to a dominating 67-49 victory, marking the Quakers’ most points scored since Ivy League play began in 1956.
Last season, O’Brien was thrown into being the Quakers’ signal-caller and quickly learned how to produce. The team also adjusted around him, taking advantage of his dual-threat ability as both a passer and runner. What began as a scramble to adapt mid-season soon revealed a new dynamic weapon for the team.
This year, O’Brien will start for the Quakers as a quarterback and senior captain, and the program hopes to further capitalize on what he has shown he can
contribute.
The coaching staff has leaned into his dual-threat identity while preparing in the offseason. Coach Ray Priore emphasized that the offense has been working to adjust to highlight O’Brien's unique skill set, especially with veteran receivers and offensive linemen returning this year.
“We’re surrounded by a really talented group, and now, it’s a matter of us watching our guys through preseason camp to see what they are good at, what we can get into, and how we build a package as the season goes on,” Priore said.
O’Brien has come a long way since his freshman year at Penn and is now ready to take on a new role for the Quakers.
“When I first got here, he was coming off an injury on his throwing shoulder, [but] now, he’s fully healthy. You can see the difference,” offensive coordinator Greg Chimera said. “He’s just our team captain, an overall leader, great player, and can run and throw. So he’s a dynamic player.”
The perception of O’Brien as a run-first option has, of course, lingered. But O’Brien isn’t deterred by the label. He knows the value he brings to the team, and instead sees his dueling skill sets as another weapon — when he sees defense anticipating a quarterback run, he will adjust with a pass, and vice versa.
"It’s going to create favorable matchups, favorable leverage for it in the pass game or with running backs running the ball,” O’Brien said. “It is really just a matter of trying to process everything that the defense is showing and taking advantage of where they might be weak.”
This balance between
patience and decisiveness has fueled O’Brien’s rise — and what some view as setbacks, O’Brien views as lessons. He noted that the team’s loss to Princeton last year was a major learning opportunity.
“I’ve gone back and watched that game a lot,” O’Brien said. “Seeing what I did wrong, seeing where I can improve — that’s been a big motivation for me.”
As he enters his senior season, O’Brien isn’t focused on how fans or opponents will remember him, but rather on the impact he hopes to have on the team.
“I want them to remember a ring,” he said. “[But] I don’t really care if they remember me. I just want to be known as a good teammate, a good guy to be around, and someone who could lead a team of 100 guys.”
The coaching staff commended O’Brien’s leadership skills on and off the field — qualities that, when combined with his skillset as quarterback, make an ideal leader.
“He holds everyone accountable. … But in practice, you can hold him accountable as a leader, as the quarterback, and keep the friendships on the field,” Chimera said. “He’s really good about being able to switch gears in this way.”
“Some people can lead by
what they do. Some people can lead by what they say. I think it’s a combination of all those things that he is able to put together,” Priore added. “He has the ability to connect with everyone and communicate.”
O’Brien’s leadership and character were also noted by his teammates, who both live and play with him.
“It’s just the standards he holds himself to,” senior wide receiver — and O’Brien’s roommate — Jared Richardson said. “It’s elite just watching even simple tasks like homework or doing chores around the house. He’s always making sure everything’s good. Everything that he does is very detailed.”
O’Brien is leaning into his role as a leader and hoping to make the most of his final season however he can.
“Seeing the smile on everyone’s face, seeing the work that everyone’s putting in towards the common goal that we have … hopefully we can put in the work that it takes to ultimately achieve the goal that we want,” O’Brien said.
For O’Brien, the perception of being a run-only quarterback was never the full story. This season, he’ll have the chance to write a new one — with his arm, speed, and above all, his leadership.
WEINING DING | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Senior quarterback Liam O’Brien poses.
From Ivy champions to 5-5, the editors forecast the 2025 Penn football season
The Daily Pennsylvanian Sports Editors explain their thoughts and predicted records for the season
VALERI GUEVARRA, JUSTIN LEE, HANNAH CHANG, TYLER RINGHOFER, AND CONOR SMITH Sports Editors and Deputy Sports Editors
Valeri Guevarra — Sports Editor
From the outside looking in, it’s not easy to be optimistic about the upcoming Penn football season. Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year and star running back Malachi Hosley is now at Georgia Tech, and the Quakers finished sixth in the Ivy League preseason poll.
However, the mentality and mindset have changed a lot in this team in the offseason, and I trust these men and their willpower. Coach Ray Priore has emphasized repeatedly in these preseason weeks that the squad’s “nextman-up mentality” will drive it to success. And I believe him, especially with the epitome of “next man up” — senior quarterback Liam O’Brien — at the helm this season.
While it remains to be seen how the revamped running room will fare — led by senior nowrunning back Julien Stokes — a veteran offensive line and senior wide receivers Jared Richardson and Bisi Owens will be crucial in making plays. The strong relationships O’Brien has with his receivers — who are also his roommates — will be helpful too. Penn will win the Ivy League title if...
The whole team focuses on the details. Last year, the Quakers lost four games by seven points or less. Getting seven points or holding the opponent to three points or fewer on every drive will be key, and that’s a team effort that the Quakers have the culture and star power to accomplish.
Predicted Record: 7-3
Justin Lee — Sports Editor
Following a disappointing 6-4 overall finish last season, all eyes are on the Quakers to pull off a comeback this season. And I believe the Quakers will pull through.
Last year, the team was No. 3 in the preseason polls but then delivered three-straight
conference losses. But looking deeper at those games, the losses were a result of missed opportunities. Penn’s 20-17 loss to Dartmouth was a direct result of Dartmouth controlling the football for 72% of the second half. Just a week later, its loss to Columbia was due to a tight opposing defense.
“Liamsanity” against the Big Red showed what the Quakers can do with an ironed-out offense, and their preceding victory against Brown showed similar results. There’s no shortage of strong players across the roster, either — the Quakers’ offensive line allowed just 15 sacks all season, the ninthfewest number in NCAA FCS football..
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
It focuses on being consistent. The Quakers are primed to grab the Ivy League championship title. All they need to do is deliver.
Predicted Record : 9-1, Ivy League champions, FCS Round 1 Loss
Hannah Chang
— Deputy Sports Editor
Penn football is in a tough spot after ending last season with a losing record and the departure of Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year Hosley and team No. 2 running back Jamal Bing Jr. There are some questions to answer for this year’s squad. Will O’Brien be able to hold down the fort offensively? Will Priore really bring about the “faster finishes” he spoke about at the end of last year? How will Stokes and company fill the gap left by Hosley and Bing?
This season, we have the advantage of experience on our side and can look forward to having our offense working like a well-oiled machine with centerpieces O’Brien, Richardson, and senior offensive linemen
Netinho Olivieri and William Bergin leading the way as Stokes gets used to a position he last played in high school. For a lot of the team’s starters on both sides of the ball, it’s their final year, and they
want to make it count.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
The offensive line finds a strong identity on the ground and stays consistent.
Predicted Record: 7-3, No. 2 in Ivy League
Tyler Ringhofer — Deputy Sports Editor
The stakes could not be higher.
It goes without saying that this season is a crucial turning point for the Red and Blue. The team hasn’t won an Ivy League championship since 2016 and hasn’t finished in the top four of the conference since 2022. Now, with a prominent quarterback and a dynamic new running back leading the way, a reinvigorated roster, and a sense of urgency unlike in years past, the Quakers have every reason to believe that the script can finally be flipped.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
Penn can establish consistency on both sides of the ball,
turning its defensive grit into turnovers and O’Brien’s flashes of brilliance into sustained drives. This season has the potential to be one of the Ivy League’s surprise stories. But the margin for error is thin, and the Quakers know every game will matter more than ever with the new playoff opportunity. In what was already a recordbreaking individual showing from last season, it’s time to truly see what “Liamsanity” has to offer in a full season.
Predicted Record: 7-3, Ivy League chapions, FCS Round 1 loss
Conor Smith — Deputy Sports Editor
Losing the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, Hosley, is nothing to scoff at. I saw Hosley’s first touchdown with Georgia Tech — a 55-yard dash to the end zone. Missing his second gear is going to hurt. A run-by-committee backfield headlined by Stokes is intriguing but unproven. However, I still feel pretty confident in Penn’s offense. The Quakers boast the best offensive line in the Ivy League, highlighted by two FCS Football Central Preseason All-Americans in senior linemen Netinho Olivieri and William Bergin. They did not get enough credit for Hosley’s historic year, and they will lead the way for whoever is carrying the rock.
Furthermore, there is no reason to believe senior quarterback Liam O’Brien will regress following his impressive debut in the latter half of last season — especially when throwing to two of the most athletic wideouts in the conference in senior wide receivers Jared Richardson and Bisi Owens.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
There is consistent play from the secondary. I have talked a lot about the offense, but the reason I am picking Penn football to go 5-5 is the defense.
Last season, Penn placed No. 7 in the conference in passing defense and interceptions. With the departures of Shiloh Means and Julien Talley, I am skeptical that the secondary will see improvement. However, if it does, I think Penn will have a legitimate shot at making the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history.
Predicted record: 5-5
‘Never
thought we would
have seen this
day’: Penn football prepares for first year of FCS playof participation
With a national title on the line, the Quakers have even more to play for
WALKER CARNATHAN Former
Sports Editor
In a conference founded before the invention of the microwave, firsts are hard to come by. But this season, Penn football will have a truly novel opportunity: the chance to chase a national championship.
For the first time in the history of the Ivy League, the conference will permit its member schools to participate in the FCS playoffs, giving Ancient Eight teams a goal beyond the league title. In 2025, the Ivy League champion will earn an automatic berth to the 24-team tournament, while other teams will also have the chance to be considered for an at-large bid.
It’s a historic change for a historic league, and it’s one this year’s Quakers are determined to make the most of.
“Personally, I’ve been in this league a couple years — 39 — and I never thought we would have seen this day,” Penn football coach Ray Priore said. “I’m so happy for the league. … The fact that we could be playing here, having Thanksgiving in Philly, would be pretty sweet.”
Last winter, the Ivy League Council of Presidents voted to
retract the conference’s ban on postseason football, a move made after decades of debate.
The policy, an original tenet of the 1945 Ivy Group Agreement, was designed to prevent the league’s football teams from playing games during their schools’ finals periods.
But as other Ivy sports like basketball and lacrosse found success in their respective postseason tournaments, the league’s student leaders began to push for change. The Ancient Eight’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee penned a proposal to repeal the ban, and roughly a year later, the league gave its final stamp of approval. Senior quarterback Liam O’Brien was involved in the process as part of Penn’s SAAC committee.
Now, each team in the Ivy League is competing to be first in line.
“I think it’s really cool, at the end of the day,” senior defensive lineman Paul Jennings, a twoyear captain for the Quakers, said. “Historical thing for the Ivy League and for us to have the chance to set the record in terms
of being the first Ivy League team in the playoffs.”
“We’re just trying to focus on our day-to-day goals, rather than getting too caught up in those long-term goals,” Jennings added. “But at the end of the day, it’s just something else to work for.”
In addition to national title contention, participating in the playoffs will bring another change to the league: the need to crown a single conference champion. In years past, the Ivy League has avoided breaking ties between teams at the top of the standings, instead opting to split the title between them. Last season, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Columbia all shared the banner with a 5-2 conference record.
Now, with an automatic qualification on the line, there can only be one. In the event of a knot at the top, the league will utilize a series of tiebreakers to name a single champ, including head-to-head record, advanced metrics like key performance indicators and the ESPN Football Power Index, and even a random draw.
That said, the Red and Blue are choosing to focus on the factors within their control.
“Ultimately, our goal is to win [the Ivy League] outright,” O’Brien said. “We don’t want to leave it up to a tiebreak. 7-0 is the goal.”
That goal has been reached by a number of Penn teams since the FCS playoffs’ creation — teams that would have been able to participate in the tournament if not for the Ivy League’s policy.
Since 2000, the Quakers have recorded four undefeated Ivy League seasons and won the conference outright six times. They also won a share of the title in 2015 and 2016, Priore’s first two seasons at the helm.
Now, as the Quakers prepare for their inaugural postseason pursuit, they are not just competing for themselves. They are competing for those who never
got the chance.
“I do believe … that some of those Penn teams of the past would have did some damage,” Priore said. “Early ’90s we had Mark DeRosa, Miles Macik, and that group. The ’93 team, ’94 team was good. The ’02, ’03 team … I think we could have did some damage some years with some of the players we had, and I know they’ll be rooting us on.”
“It means a ton,” Jennings said of playing for past Penn greats. “I’ve been here for a little bit now, so [there’s] a lot of my former teammates and alumni who have a lot of eyes on us now, more than ever, because of this playoff opportunity. Making sure we represent them well, represent Penn football well, and the rest of the University, is really important for us.”
LYDIA TONG | DP FILE PHOTO Senior wide receiver Bisi Owens poses with headphones.
GRACE CHEN | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Penn football is eligible to compete in the FCS playoffs for the first time in history.
Jared Richardson looks to cement a legacy in his final season on the field
ARIEL FADER Sports Reporter
Before senior wide receiver
Jared Richardson committed to Penn football, he committed to something bigger: the people around him.
Richardson learned what commitment looked like at home, before he ever set foot on Franklin Field. Growing up, his father never missed his football games, while his mother made daily, 4 a.m. commutes from the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania to New York. Seeing such conviction and sacrifice from a young age shaped Richardson’s mindset, and his parents’ devotion became the foundation of the work ethic he has applied while playing for the Red and Blue.
That sense of commitment was necessary. Soon after arriving on campus, Richardson had to reinvent himself on the field. After putting on his new threads, he was no longer a quarterback: He had to learn how to step into the role of a wide receiver for the first time. This change pushed him to adjust mentally and physically as he worked to settle into his place on the team.
“At first it was a little rocky,” Richardson said. “And then I started picking things up, you know, and I got on the field as a
freshman.”
Across his three seasons for the Quakers, Richardson has starred in numerous matches under the shining lights. But one memory from his first year as a Quaker still sticks with him: his
first moment under the lights of Franklin Field in a matchup against Columbia. His parents were in the stands, cameras in hand, capturing the milestones as he fielded a kickoff return and made his first mark on Penn’s historic turf.
What began as an experiment quickly became a given.
By sophomore year, Richardson looked every bit the natural wide receiver. This was his breakthrough year, as he led the team with 67 receptions, 788 receiving yards, and 8 receiving touchdowns.
Despite his individual successes, football has never been a solo pursuit for Richardson. After having his dad as his coach during his early years, his football career has always been intertwined with his family. Now, at Penn, he’s also built lasting bonds with his teammates: Richardson currently lives with teammates senior quarterback Liam O’Brien and fellow senior wide receiver Bisi Owens. Training on the turf and
living together has strengthened their dynamic on and off the field.
“We’ve just clicked,” Richardson said. “It’s like we’re always on the same page, which is great.”
This friendship goes further than playbooks and practice — it even took flight this summer when Richardson traveled to visit Colorado before the preseason camp. The visit was part training, part getaway — it was as much about making memories as it was about sharpening their skills.
Having this backing from his teammates will be an asset as the Quakers charge into the upcoming season. Though Richardson experienced a highly successful sophomore season, his junior year performance fell short. Richardson noted that he didn’t make as many catches as he wanted and that it took a toll on him mentally. But with his senior season in front of him, he’s determined to reset and come out stronger than ever alongside his
BY THE NUMBERS
7
touchdowns in 2024
10
games as a starter in 2024
receptions for 684 yards in 2024
teammates.
“This year it’s a clean slate,” Richardson said. “We’re hunting for that Ivy League [championship].”
Before he hangs up his Penn jersey, Richardson hopes to eclipse 1,000 yards to match former Penn receiver and threetime Super Bowl champion Justin Watson’s legacy. Watson occupies three of the top five seasons in receiving yards.
Looking further ahead, Richardson is keeping his options open. While he’s searching for traditional job opportunities, he is also interested in using his additional year of eligibility to achieve his dream of playing in the NFL. While he has big goals, his motivation circles back to the people who made his journey possible.
“I want to go out with a bang,” said Richardson. “Hopefully with this football stuff, I can say, ‘Mom, you don’t ever have to work again.’”
Sports associate Sonal Sukhatme contributed reporting.
Richardson hopes to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards this year to match former Penn receiver and NFL player Justin Watson
WEINING DING | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Senior wide receiver Jared Richardson poses with a football.
ERICA JIANG | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Richardson pictured celebrating during a game at Cornell on Nov. 9, 2024.
PENN FOOTBALL IS SUITING UP
LYDIA TONG | DP FILE PHOTO
LYDIA TONG DP FILE PHOTO
LYDIA TONG | DP FILE PHOTO
MEERA RATNAGIRI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
‘Next-man-up mentality’: The team culture that drives Penn football
The
mentality that motivates everyone, from starters to backups to third strings
AVERY BROBBEY Sports Associate
In every team within Penn athletics, there comes a time when players must rise to the challenge of playing in the first string. Whether it’s an injury, illness, or a coach’s decision, the hierarchy of the team can change, and every individual on the roster must be prepared. The “nextman-up” mentality of feeling empowered and ready to step up to the plate is especially important on these occasions.
For Penn football, one name comes to the forefront of players’ and fans’ minds when they think of a paradigm of the next man up: now-senior quarterback Liam O’Brien.
After being the backup quarterback to star Aidan Sayin, O’Brien’s junior year was decorated with glory when he had to step in after Sayin was injured. In just his second game as a starter, O’Brien set program records for passing and overall touchdowns in a game, earning Ivy League and FCS Offensive Player of the Week nods. The remainder of that season would be no different: O’Brien notched 13 total touchdown passes and 300 rushing yards in his remaining games.
Now, as the starting quarterback, O’Brien knows that the goal is a championship, but he ultimately wants to be remembered for being a supportive leader.
“I don’t really care if they remember me, [but I want to be remembered as] just a good teammate, encouraging everyone, [a] good guy to be around, and able to lead a team of 100 guys,” O’Brien said.
Senior wide receiver Bisi Owens said O’Brien was always ready to take the reins.
“[Sayin,] our starting quarterback for four years, goes down, and [O’Brien] picks up right where he left off and actually goes on to win twostraight games in a very epic manner,” Owens said. “He was ready for it the whole
season, and he was extremely excited and prepared when his number was called.”
O’Brien’s example has set the tone for the rest of the team, and his efforts last season are a product of the deep dedication and preparation that Penn football coaches and players give their second- and third-string players.
it ‘Young Guns.’ Those were all of our younger players — guys who are not the number one player … but we need to continue to develop them, especially in the season as well.”
Developing a strong mindset off the field is equally as important as the extra practice time on the field. For these Quakers, finding time to
is further exemplified in junior running back Sean Williams Jr. and senior running back Julien “Juice” Stokes. They will be the ones to watch on the ground after the departure of last year’s No. 1 and 2 running backs.
For these two — and the four other running backs on the team — mentorship and personal efforts are the main
going to be nervous,” Williams Jr. said. “It feels like the big leagues [because] the first time, everyone is bigger than you [as] you look around. You’re actually dazed, caught up in the moment, but then you have to learn to focus up. Focus on the plays; focus on the next drive.”
While the coaches devote their time to the Young Guns practice, second and third strings must also find time off the field to round out their skillsets and study the starters from the sidelines.
“You always have to do your own stuff, work out in your own time, because what we do on the field is just, quite frankly, not enough time,” Williams Jr. said.
Mentorship is different from the veteran’s perspective. Captains and senior players who have been in younger players’ shoes can understand the difficulty of waiting for one’s finest hour, so their advice is informed. Producing a welcoming and comforting environment is one of the best ways for veterans to encourage their mentees.
A priority for this team is instilling confidence in every individual on the roster, from No. 1 to No. 99. To do so, the team prioritizes practice time for everyone, regardless of how much action they see on the field.
“The key ones are the ones who are on the [third string], who are borderline being a backup but they’re not,” coach Ray Priore said. “We set aside an hour a week; we call
build connections with every player comes easily due to the abundance of time spent together. The veterans devote much of their time to bringing their second and third strings up with them in terms of playing style and competitive mentality, and this mentorship especially pays off when the younger players finally have their days in the sun.
This season, the “nextman-up” mentality and connection between players
features that comprise the ”next-man-up” mentality.
As he took to the field for the first time as a sophomore, Williams Jr. adopted the “next-man-up” mentality to prove himself to his coaches. With no one but himself to motivate him as he ran onto the turf, he demonstrated his confidence and determination to do well, and he was able to play in three more games that season.
“First game, you’re always
“We got a great bond in the running back room,” Stokes said. “We all help each other with the routes [and] the footwork. Everybody’s supportive of each other, and when you have a group like that, it just makes it so much easier when you step onto the field knowing that your guys have your back and you know what you’re doing out there.”
Being the “next man up” is more than a mentality — it’s a lifestyle that warrants confidence, going the extra mile, and expecting the unexpected in any game.
Penn football has cultivated a culture that empowers every player and ensures preparedness for all, which means that in the 2025 season, injuries, illnesses, or other circumstances will be no match for the Quakers’ spirit.
MEERA RATNAGIRI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior defensive back Josh Narcisse and senior wide receiver Bisi Owens pose with a football.
Meet Penn football’s four 2025 captains
Senior quarterback Liam O’Brien, senior linebacker John Lista, senior defensive lineman Paul Jennings, and senior center William Bergin will lead the Quakers this season
JUSTIN
LEE Sports Editor
WEINING DING | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR O’Brien poses.
With a new football season comes a changing of the guard, and four newly nominated captains will take the helm for the Quakers in 2025.
This year’s captains are senior quarterback Liam O’Brien, senior linebacker John Lista, senior defensive lineman Paul Jennings, and senior center William Bergin. Jennings is returning to the captain’s position this season after he and two other captains led the team through the 2024 season.
All four of the 2025 captains spoke of the leadership position as a “great honor” and acknowledged the trust they are receiving from their teammates and coach Ray Priore in interviews with The Daily Pennsylvanian — and highlighted the unique skillset of their co-captains and teammates.
Liam O’Brien
After taking over the starting quarterback position in the middle of the season last year, O’Brien — who is from Boulder, Colo. — is
experienced with leadership and truly understands the importance of his role.
“We are the people that 100 guys look to on a daily basis. We’re the ones coordinating, directing, organizing, and motivating a full team,”
O’Brien said. “It’s a big honor. … [Our teammates] have the respect in us and they trust us.”
O’Brien, the six-foot quarterback, took the spotlight after 2024 Wharton graduate and former quarterback Aidan Sayin went down with a season-ending injury in a matchup against Yale last season. O’Brien shot to success during the rest of the season, earning FCS National Player of the Week honors and setting two program records in passing and total touchdowns in a single game.
O’Brien is looking forward to working with the team and his co-captains this season, citing effort as the biggest factor in deciding the team’s successes in 2025.
“The two basic things that you can control no matter what [are] your attitude and
“In this league, it takes one loss to knock you out of championship contention,” Jennings said. “So we want to make sure that we’re not dropping the ball anywhere.”
In addition to leading an experienced team of defensive linemen, Jennings is also looking forward to working with his co-captains.
“I think our leadership this year is really strong … and I think that will really shine,” he said.
William Bergin
Rounding out the list of the close-knit group of captains is Bergin, a 6-foot-3 center from Cheshire, Conn who earned second team All-Ivy honors last season after starting all 10 games. Bergin views being a captain as being part of a “brotherhood.”
your effort,” O’Brien said. “If you can always give 100% of your effort, you’ll be the best teammate and push yourself.”
John Lista
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior linebacker from Fair Haven, N.J. is looking to build on a season where he notched 62 tackles and 44 solo stops, tying him for fifth in solo tackles among Ivy League defenders and netting him second team All-Ivy honors. He echoed Jennings’ plan to round out the team and focus on the details as a captain this season.
“I think as a captain and a leader, what we need to do is refine all of our players and get everyone on the same page,” Lista said. “We’ve been doing a great job of it thus far … [but we need to focus on] the nitty-gritty and all the little things.”
Lista will lead a unit of 12 linebackers this season in the hopes of winning an Ivy League championship. But in terms of advice for his fellow captains and the team, Lista plans to take the season one
step at a time.
“It doesn’t get better than this, these coaches, the people, the culture. Just embrace everything and take it in,” he said.
Paul Jennings
Jennings, who hails from Ambler, Pa., is entering his second year as captain. Last year, Jennings made two starts before being sidelined with a season-ending injury. But this season, he’s back on the field and looking forward to improving on last season’s 4-6 overall finish.
“It’s a huge honor. … It’s doing the stuff that’s going to help this team achieve our goals and win on a week-toweek basis,” Jennings said of being named captain. “But also, it has a lot to do with … making sure that the guys are aligned from a mentality perspective, and doing the right things day in and day out.”
As the team finishes its final practices of the preseason, Jennings said he would mainly focus on consistency across the offense and defense.
“You get to wear a brotherhood on your chest, loyalty, and putting everything that you work for,” Bergin said. “You stand for the whole Penn brotherhood and everyone that’s come over 100 years.”
This season, Bergin leads an experienced offensive line that allowed only 15 sacks last season, the ninth fewest in NCAA FCS football. As the team gears up for the season, Bergin is also looking to iron out the little details in practices.
“Practice like you want to be a champion,” Bergin said. “If we key in on [practicing] the little details, as in practice habits, we will be a very great team.”
Bergin emphasized the importance of keeping a level head and valuing everyone’s roles on the team to his fellow captains.
“Everyone has a part. There’s no one too little or too small to feel that they don’t have a part on this football team,” Bergin said. ”Everyone comes ready to play, no matter if you’re the last guy or you’re the best guy, it doesn’t matter.”
WEINING DING | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Lista poses with a football.
DEVANSH RANIWALA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bergin pictured holding a football on Oct. 25, 2024.
UMA MUKHOPADHYAY | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Jennings pictured cheering on his teammates on Nov. 9, 2024.
‘We’ll protect him with our life’: A look at Penn football’s ofensive line
The Quakers are bringing back their entire starting ofensive line, which stars two FCS Preseason All-Americans
CONOR SMITH Deputy Sports Editor
Have you ever thrown a punch?
Maybe it was in a play fight with a sibling, or when sparring with a friend, or (hopefully not) in an actual allout brawl. In any case, think about what your hand looked like when you swung. Did you have any fingers sticking out or was your fist clenched into a tight jab?
Penn offensive line coach Kyle Metzler coaches his front five to make sure their unit resembles, interestingly, a fist.
“It’s a perfect analogy for what the O-line is, because there’s five fingers on your hand,” Metzler said. “If all five of us are working together, we’re all on the same page, and we’re in unison, it can create a very powerful thing. You can punch someone with a fist, but if one of us is on the wrong page — your finger is sticking out. You try to punch somebody, you’re going to break your finger.”
Last season, Penn’s offensive line got off a clean punch.
The Quakers’ front five gave up just 15 total sacks — best for No. 9 in the FCS. This number is increasingly impressive when considering that the line had to adjust to blocking for a different quarterback halfway through the season. Following senior quarterback Aidan Sayin’s season-ending elbow injury, then-junior quarterback Liam O’Brien stepped in. O’Brien was more prone to use his legs to pick up yardage and extend plays, unlike his predecessor, forcing the line to adjust to a different play style.
The boys up front now have five games and an offseason under their belt blocking for O’Brien, who enters the season as the starting quarterback.
“It’s awesome to get used to that type of playstyle,” senior
offensive lineman Netinho Olivieri said. “Because we were thrown into that [play style] in the middle of the season, it feels good to be able to have that chemistry going into the season — [just] knowing how [O’Brien] moves around in the pocket and not having to think about where he’d be.”
Senior offensive lineman William Bergin put it more bluntly: “Bottom line, no matter who’s back there, we’ll protect him with our life and always our life.”
Olivieri and Bergin
— both FCS Football Central Preseason All-Americans — headline an offensive line that is bringing back all five starters from last year. Bergin noted that the experience the line has together adds another layer of trust for the entire offense. The team captain described having complete trust in each other as the “name of the game in football.”
The line also has the advantage of going into its second season under offensive coordinator Greg Chimera. The offense, as a whole, showed
some early growing pains before notching a much-improved finish in Chimera’s first season as the primary playcaller. Overall, Penn came in No. 5 in the Ivy Leaguee in points scored per game. With all this consistency, though, there is a major question surrounding the offensive line: Who will they be blocking for? Last season, the line paved the way for sophomore running back Malachi Hosley’s Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year campaign. With Hosley departing for Georgia Tech, though, the offensive line will be tasked with run blocking for a by-committee attack.
The current running back room consists of senior Julien Stokes, junior Sean Williams Jr., and sophomore Donte West. With Stokes converting from wide receiver and West not recording a snap last season, Williams was the only one to record any rushing yards in 2024, netting just 28. But Metzler is not losing any sleep over the transition.
“[Hosley] was a very talented kid, but we’re going to be fine. We’re going to be fine at the running back position,” Metzler, who also serves as the run game coordinator, said. “We’re going to have great, explosive runs. We’re going to be good. I’m not worried about them. They’ve been working their butts off, and they’re gonna continue to work their butts off.”
Metzler’s unit is hoping that the long offseason proves fruitful for the unproven run game and the offense as a whole. Olivieri claims that around 90% of the offensive linemen on Penn’s roster were on campus for morning workouts the whole summer, including a grueling annual run to the Philadelphia Art Museum to scale the “Rocky Steps.”
“We got a lot of guys bought in,” Bergin said. “A lot of people’s minds are in the right place coming into this season. We’re treating each other as one unit and not 17, 18 individuals.”
ANNIE LIU | DP FILE PHOTO
Olivieri pictured celebrating on Sept. 28, 2024.
A deep dive into the 2025 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll
After sharing the conference crown for the past two years, Harvard leads the rankings ahead of the season
AVERY BROBBEY AND VALERI GUEVARRA Sports
Associate and Sports Editor
1. Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy, Ivy League cochampions in 2024)
The Crimson, receiving 118 points and earning nine first-place votes, are the preseason favorite in the 2025 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll. After being Ivy League Champions for the last two seasons and netting a 5-2 conference record last season, Harvard’s top players plan to keep their winning streak alive. Notably, Harvard quarterback Jaden Craig threw 2,430 yards last season and made the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List and Phil Steele preseason All-Ivy League first team. Craig will strive to lead his Crimson teammates to glory in the upcoming season.
2. Dartmouth (8-2, 5-2, Ivy League cochampions in 2024)
Third time is the charm for the Big Green. In the past two seasons, Dartmouth has finished in the top three among the Ancient Eight — notably rising to the top as Ivy League co-champions with Harvard and Columbia last season. Starkly contrasting its 2022 season, when the Big Green was second to last in the conference, Dartmouth is in its comeback era, and it has been putting in the work: Its main theme for offseason camp was a “workmanlike and professional mentality towards every single day.” Dartmouth’s coaches have equally equipped themselves for a great season: Coach Don Dobes won the American Football Coaches Association’s National Assistant Coach of the Year last month after having led the team to five Ivy League championships. All in all, Dartmouth is fighting for another championship, and its grind in the offseason might just keep them at the top this season.
3. Yale (7-3, 4-3, fourth in the Ivy League in 2024)
The conference is gradually overwhelming the Bulldogs. In the last three years, Yale has dropped from first place to second place in the Ivy League and has added an Ivy League team to its losing record every season, going from 6-1 in 2022 to 4-3 last season. Though their conference record is not looking the best, the Bulldogs won every game in nonconference play last season, ending the season on a three-game win streak. Yale hopes to continue this high this season by making some necessary changes. For its special teams unit, the Bulldogs are filling the punter and snapper positions with Rice transfer punter Reese Keeney and second-string long snapper Joey Fortner, respectively. These two will aid in the team’s journey to lead the Ancient Eight.
4. Columbia (7-3, 5-2, Ivy League cochampions in 2024)
In 2023, the Lions won a single conference game. Last year, Columbia climbed to the top of the standings and was crowned Ivy League champions for the first time since 1961. The once “perennial football losers” are now the ones with a target on their backs. Rankings don’t tell the whole story, especially for this team. Ahead of the 2024 season, the Lions were dead last in the preseason yet finished at the top of the league. While the team must account for the departure of numerous stars on the offense — including the AllIvy selections in now-Kansas wide receiver Bryson Canty and former Lions running back Joey Giorgi, who graduated in Columbia’s Class of 2025 — the Lions return head coach Jon Poppe for his second season at the helm of this program and a strong quarterback room.
5. Princeton (3-7, 2-5, tied for last in the Ivy League in 2024)
Since 2021, the Princeton Tigers have steadily declined in their conference rankings. From placing second in 2021 to finishing last in the 2024 season, the Tigers are looking for a comeback. Having lost three seniors to the transfer portal to optimize their final year of NCAA eligibility, Princeton will be relying on its remaining players to bridge the gap. On top of that, the 2024 season was the first since 2011 where the Tigers had more losses than wins. Nevertheless, the Tigers may roar
again this season as they focus on their key players, quarterback Blaine Hipa and linebacker Marco Scarano. It is clear that Princeton will not let its faults last year define it. Will that be enough?
6. Penn (4-6, 2-5, tied for last in the Ivy League in 2024)
The Quakers are ready to dominate. Having found themselves in the bottom half of the Ancient Eight for two years, Penn football is looking for a repeat of the 2022 season where they finished tied for second in the Ivy League with rival Princeton. The Quakers will be led by their four captains this season, especially senior quarterback Liam O’Brien. After historic performances when he took the field in place of injured then-senior quarterback Aidan Sayin last season, O’Brien’s name is well known around Franklin Field. With the help of O’Brien and his hardworking teammates, Penn might just triumph again in the 2025 season.
in 2024)
Cornell fans, players, and coaches are desperate for their days in the sun. Since 2004, the Big Red have had big struggles, consistently ranking in the bottom half of the Ivy League and not having a winning record in conference play since 2005. Nonetheless, they persist. Looking ahead to the upcoming season, two Cornell football players — wide receiver Samuel Musungu and tight end Ryder Kurtz — were named to the 2025 FCS Football Central Preseason All-America Team. Musungu was also named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, and both players’ accolades speak to the Big Red’s odyssey toward the top four this season.
8. Brown (3-7, 2-5, tied for last in the Ivy League in 2024)
It’s been has a struggle as of late for the Bears. Last season, Brown finished with a losing record in Ancient Eight for the 13th-straight season. But there was a shining light amid the darkness in Brown running back Matt Childs. The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year finished the season averaging four yards per attempt and about 40 yards per game on the ground from nine games. Childs also was the only Ivy League player to be named a finalist for the Jerry Rice award. He returns this year to support the Bears’ quest for a winning season.
LYDIA TONG | DP FILE PHOTO
Senior wide receiver Jared Richardson and senior linebacker Kadari Machen pose.
Storylines to follow ahead of Penn football’s season opener at Stonehill
Winning the turnover battle will be key to the Quakers’ success
TYLER RINGHOFER Deputy Sports Editor
After an offseason full of roster shakeups, the Quakers are entering 2025 with a chip on their shoulder.
This season marks a pivotal inflection point for the program, which is hoping to turn the page on back-toback losing records in the Ivy League, and there’s no better curtain-raiser than the storylines emerging from the offseason.
This weekend, Penn football faces its first test in a road trip to face the Stonehill Skyhawks. The contest marks the beginning of non-conference play, which traditionally kicks off the Quakers’ season.
Voted No. 6 in the Ivy League’s preseason poll, the Red and Blue will be out to defy expectations and write its own redemption story.
Despite a star departure at the running back position, the Quakers are seeing key players return, especially on offense. First team All-Ivy winner and senior wide receiver Jared Richardson and two-time program-record holder and senior
quarterback Liam O’Brien are ready to headline the Quakers this season.
Getting off to a good start
This season carries added weight for the Quakers, as it marks the inaugural season of the Ancient Eight’s participation in the FCS playoffs — giving Penn a chance to compete not only for an Ivy championship, but also for a spot in the fight for a national title. A strong start will be paramount to the team’s confidence and season trajectory.
This weekend’s opponent, the Stonehill Skyhawks, boasts a structured offense led by quarterback Jack O’Connell, who recently threw three touchdowns in a loss to Lafayette. For Penn, limiting explosive plays will be key to containing the Skyhawks’ attack.
Defense wins championships
The turnover margin wasn’t just a talking point that Priore off-handedly mentioned during the Ivy Day media conference — it’s been a thorn in
the team’s side the past few years.
While it doesn’t help that the Quakers ranked as one of the bottom two teams in the Ivy League in interceptions this past season, Priore also stressed the fact that winning at the margins starts with possessing the ball.
“It starts [with] the ball. We got to possess it, we got to keep it, and we got to get it. … This league is all about points. … The goal is not three; the goal is seven,” Priore said in August about the season, “And then on defense, [the] goal is keeping the three. We’re not on the points, and we’ve lost too many games by a very, very small margin.”
During the 2024 season, the Quakers lost five games by seven points or less, including a devastating 20-17 loss to historic rival Princeton.
After losing their “quarterback on defense” in defensive back Shiloh Means, the Red and Blue will look to other leaders and contributors this season.
A critical area to focus on
is limiting the big plays: Last season, Penn gave up seven touchdowns of 35 yards or longer, including two 75-yard touchdown runs. Senior defensive lineman Paul Jennings, who is returning this season after being sidelined by injury last year, sees physicality and aggressiveness as important factors for the defense in securing victories, especially in close battles.
“To be honest, this is not a group that’s interested in being close. This is a group that wants to make it all the way there [and] wants to dominate week after week,” Jennings said in August. “Our defensive motto is simply hustle, hard work, and physicality.”
The Skyhawks have also struggled on defense, giving up 42 points to Lafayette. Despite only holding Sacred Heart to 12 points in their first outing of the season, the Skyhawks showed vulnerability against the run game, surrendering 127 yards and three touchdowns to Lafayette’s running back Kente Edwards. The Red and Blue will aim to take advantage of that leaky rush defense with senior now-running back Julien Stokes, who converted from wide receiver last season and enters as a favorable matchup.
QB1 leading the charge
After a historic seven-touchdown performance at Cornell last year, quarterback Liam O’Brien turned heads in the college football world. In a historic performance dubbed “Liam-sanity,” it was clear that O’Brien had started to show his immense growth at quarterback, even after a slow start in his previous appearances.
O’Brien heads into this season as the starting quarterback, captain, and a leader looking to put in the hard work with his team to build upon the flashes of title potential from last season.
“I think it purely comes down to effort,” O’Brien said on being
voted as a captain. “If you can always give 100% of your effort … and then bring the best attitude that you can, you’ll be the best teammate.”
Although there was not a specific moment or play when Priore recalls knowing O’Brien was “the guy,” a culmination of impressive statistics and offthe-field leadership caught the coach’s eye. Indeed, as O’Brien heads into his first full season as the starting quarterback, Priore sees something more than just the ability to run or throw the football in him.
“He is a leader on the field. He’s a leader off the field. When your best players are your hardest workers, everyone sees that,” Priore said at a practice in September.
Implications for this season
Entering his 10th season at the helm — and more than a decade with the program — coach Ray Priore knows there’s plenty riding on this year. The Quakers haven’t captured an Ivy League title since 2016, but earning a spot in the inaugural FCS playoffs would be both a realistic and meaningful goal.
The Red and Blue should come out firing this weekend, with the makings of a blowout on the horizon. The Quakers look ready to roll.
SCORE
MEERA RATNAGIRI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Penn football played Dartmouth on Oct. 5, 2024.
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